The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-01
THE DEAD MONEY KING.
Precautions Against the Theft of Wander
bits Ashes-what 1t Costs.

Precautions Against the Theft of Wander
bits Ashes-What 1t Costs.
Correspondence Boston Herald.
New Dorp, on Staten island, is the site of the
Vanderbilt tomb; or. to speak IN terms adopted
by the awe-inspired, the Vanderbilt mausoleum.
1t is here in the old Gods acre. that untold
millions are cousecrsting brick and mortar, gran
lite and marble. to the memory of a man who
never was great in anything save in money keep
ing.
The consecrated pile dedicated to the imperial
arbiter of millions is perhaps a mile or more
from the quaint Dutch settlements where you
leave the train. Nature herself has done much
inRs of even kings could have desired but the
hand of has fashioned and is fash.
Joining there something that puzzles
the philosopher, earnest student, thoughtful
men OF every kind The colossal sepulcher is
practically finished, and the ashes of William H.
Vanderbilt rest within. The surroundings ara
yet rude. for the grounds have not yet been fully
graded or laid out, and air of newness
vades everything Yet the food for reflection is
abundant Il know that my Redeemer liveth"
is carved in the stone behind the iron bars. and
the inscriptions tell of religious sentiment that
was implanted throughout this countryside
when New York was only village, and the
Dutch settlers put the stamp of Moravian faith
and simplicity upon this island which is
only one of great city's breathing plac&
But what does this wonderful tomb sienify2
After all the vast expenditure of money there is
no real rest for the living kindred. safety for
the earthly remains of the man whose will and
purse it typifies. This Inausoeum. into which
has been crowded all the ingenuity and protect
i've devices known to science is ade-
quate to guard the bones of the dead king"
All night and all day six detectives we'll drilled
and we'll armed. watch over this huge granite
pile and its molderng contents, Even stone is
not security, granite is not strength, iron is not
protection, monumental walls not unassail-
able to the craft and spirit Vanderbilt ingrafted
by his life work. Money to him was
the end Of all. The lesson he
they wisely conclude that what the money king
taught the cunning may carry out. The man to
whose memory it has been erected has been dead
year and a half, vet there is pause in the
watch which great riches have made essential to
the battling of cupidity. A sentry box stands
near this grand receptacle for the dead. an a,naz-
ing comment on the peace and security of the
place. The men are kept constantly guard
like soldiers In addition to these human vigils
a system of signals or burglar alarms is added,
which penetrate many different parts of the
ground. AT stated intervals these are set off by
the single man on his six hours turn of duty,
and the reserve rapidly assemblies at a given
point 1t is not dress parade, but a sort of drill
that the chief detective exacts of the men
whom he hires to guard this znausoleum from
pillage. At night the watch is more
vigilant. When darkness brings greater danger
from those who would steal the body for ran
som, powerful flame is lighted in the cupola,
which shines out over the humble graveyard be-
low. Into this dome one of the detectives must
90 every half hour and touch another alarm,
which records the fidelity of those on duty.
Every twelve hours the chief enters the building
see from this new electric register whether
each man duty during the night has gone his
rounds at the prescribed moment. This precau-
ton against theft furnishes many interesting re-
Elections.
The cost of guarding the remains of Mr.. Van.
derbilt amounts to small fortune each year.
The interest the $500 600 said to have been
expended on the twenty-one acres of ground and
the mortuary edifee which adorns it is big
item Add to this at least $50 day for the de-
tective guard which is KEEP: constantly on duty.
and it toots up to total of about $50 600 year
of outlay to keep at rest the ashes OF one man.